A juggler is someone who keeps several objects moving through the air at once, catching and throwing them in a continuous pattern. You've probably seen jugglers tossing balls, clubs, or even flaming torches, catching each one just in time to throw it back up again. Good jugglers make it look effortless, but it takes serious practice to train your hands and eyes to work together that precisely.

Juggling has entertained people for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptian artwork shows jugglers performing, and traveling jugglers were popular entertainers in medieval Europe. Today you might see jugglers at circuses, street festivals, or talent shows.

The word also describes someone trying to handle multiple tasks or responsibilities at the same time. A parent might be juggling work, cooking dinner, and helping with homework all at once. A student might juggle soccer practice, piano lessons, and schoolwork. Unlike actual juggling, where you're doing the same motion repeatedly, juggling responsibilities means switching your attention between different demands, trying not to drop any of them. When someone says they're juggling too many things, they're feeling overwhelmed by everything they're trying to handle.